University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna

The university is the only veterinary academic educational and research institution in Austria and also the oldest in the German-speaking world. Research foci of the Konrad Lorenz Institute for Comparative Behavioural Research are behavioural ecology and specifically sexual selection. Model organisms are a variety of animal species, especially mammals, birds and fish, which are studied in their natural habitat, in semi-natural husbandry and experimentally. In addition to classical observation, molecular-genetic and biochemical methods are increasingly used to answer questions about the adaptive value of behaviour as well as the underlying physiological mechanisms. The aim is also to use the knowledge gained to solve application-related problems, especially in nature conservation and environmental protection. Since spring 2015, the Institute has also been home to the Austrian Ornithological Centre.

Core competencies for the network: Behavioural monitoring of wildlife